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The event, held by the Upstate Sikh Society, drew guests from the Carolinas, Georgia and beyond, said Harpreet Bhullar of Albuquerque, N.M., whose visit to her hometown of Spartanburg coincided with the temple's opening.

Bhullar and her sister, Gurpreet Singh, of Simpsonsonville, said their parents, Tarsem and Baldish Roopra emigrated from Punjab to the Upstate in 1974 and were the first Sikhs in the area. They also attended the opening of the temple, called Gurdwara Nanak Darbar, after the religion's founder.

“We're excited,” Singh said, with a smile. “It's very exciting to have our own gurdwara and not have to go to Columbia or Charlotte.”

Sikhism was founded in India in the late 15th century by Guru Nanak and is the youngest and least known of the world's monotheistic religious traditions. Historically associated with the Punjab, a region that connects southern Asia with the Middle East, more than 2 million Sikhs now live and work in North America, Western Europe and many former British colonies.

Worldwide, there are more than 18 million Sikhs, according to the Encyclopedia of World Religions. Gov. Nikki Haley was raised in the Sikh faith but now identifies herself as Christian.

Construction began on the $800,000 temple in November 2011 after 7 years of fundraising. The society decided to build in Duncan because members are divided almost evenly between Greenville and Spartanburg. Until now, Sikhs in the Upstate have worshipped in homes or other temples throughout the Carolinas.

Bhullar and Singh say Duncan has been very welcoming to the Sikhs.

“To them, it's fascinating,” Singh said. “After the attack (on a Sikh temple) in Wisconsin, now people really know who we are.”

The sisters know that their religion is often misunderstood, as the men wear turbans and followers leave their hair uncut.

“People who don't know see us as Osama bin Laden,” Bhullar said. “But we are a monotheistic, non-violent religion. We believe you can find God within yourself. You don't have to go through someone to find God.”

In India, a gurdwara's kitchen is open 24 hours and always offers a meal to those who come in. It is integral to the faith's emphasis on seva, or community service, offering a free meal to those of any religion or status. Sikhism also stresses honest work and social responsibility through charity, and its five cardinal vices are lust, anger, greed, worldly attachment and pride.

According to www.sikhs.org, men, women and children can sit at the altar, and there are no priests, only custodians, or granthi, of the Guru Granth Sahib, the religion's sacred text.

Sikhism preaches that people of different races, religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of God and teaches the full equality of men and women. Women can participate in any religious function or perform any Sikh ceremony or lead the congregation in prayer, according to www.sikhs.org.

Those entering the gurdwara must remove their shoes and cover their heads (men of the faith wear turbans and the women cover their heads with brightly colored scarves). When congregants walk in, they bow before the Guru Granth Sahib.

“We're not bowing to a book but what the scriptures have taught us,” Bhullar said.

For such an auspicious event as a grand opening, a three-day prayer called Akand Path began Friday. Volunteers step in and relieve those reading the prayer, picking up where the last person left off. The prayer is said for other special events, such as the birth of a child, or on holy days.

On Sunday afternoon, a conclusion prayer, or ardas, would be said, and those attending the special day would then have communion, a mixture of cream of wheat, flour, butter and sugar.

“Everyone receives it as a blessing,” Singh said. After communion would be the traditional meal, or langar, which would include familiar Indian food like curry.

Forty-five to 50 families will hold services at the gurdwara on the second and fourth Sundays each month.

There are some recognizable similarities between Sikhism and Christianity, but Bhullar and Singh pointed out one difference.

“It is not a religion of conversion,” Bhullar said.

Still, everyone is welcome at Gurdwara Nanak Darbar.

“We welcome anyone who wants to understand and experience the faith,” Bhullar said. “They can come here and not be judged, regardless of whether they're rich or poor, or their nationality. All faiths can come and pray together, and all faiths can come eat together.”

<p>DUNCAN — Upstate-area Sikhs celebrated the grand opening of a new place of worship Sunday with special prayers, meditations, singing and sharing a meal.</p><p>The event, held by the Upstate Sikh Society, drew guests from the Carolinas, Georgia and beyond, said Harpreet Bhullar of Albuquerque, N.M., whose visit to her hometown of Spartanburg coincided with the temple's opening.</p><p>Bhullar and her sister, Gurpreet Singh, of Simpsonsonville, said their parents, Tarsem and Baldish Roopra emigrated from Punjab to the Upstate in 1974 and were the first Sikhs in the area. They also attended the opening of the temple, called Gurdwara Nanak Darbar, after the religion's founder.</p><p>“We're excited,” Singh said, with a smile. “It's very exciting to have our own gurdwara and not have to go to Columbia or Charlotte.”</p><p>Sikhism was founded in India in the late 15th century by Guru Nanak and is the youngest and least known of the world's monotheistic religious traditions. Historically associated with the Punjab, a region that connects southern Asia with the Middle East, more than 2 million Sikhs now live and work in North America, Western Europe and many former British colonies.</p><p>Worldwide, there are more than 18 million Sikhs, according to the Encyclopedia of World Religions. Gov. Nikki Haley was raised in the Sikh faith but now identifies herself as Christian.</p><p>Construction began on the $800,000 temple in November 2011 after 7 years of fundraising. The society decided to build in Duncan because members are divided almost evenly between Greenville and Spartanburg. Until now, Sikhs in the Upstate have worshipped in homes or other temples throughout the Carolinas.</p><p>Bhullar and Singh say Duncan has been very welcoming to the Sikhs.</p><p>“To them, it's fascinating,” Singh said. “After the attack (on a Sikh temple) in Wisconsin, now people really know who we are.”</p><p>The sisters know that their religion is often misunderstood, as the men wear turbans and followers leave their hair uncut.</p><p>“People who don't know see us as Osama bin Laden,” Bhullar said. “But we are a monotheistic, non-violent religion. We believe you can find God within yourself. You don't have to go through someone to find God.”</p><p>In India, a gurdwara's kitchen is open 24 hours and always offers a meal to those who come in. It is integral to the faith's emphasis on seva, or community service, offering a free meal to those of any religion or status. Sikhism also stresses honest work and social responsibility through charity, and its five cardinal vices are lust, anger, greed, worldly attachment and pride.</p><p>According to www.sikhs.org, men, women and children can sit at the altar, and there are no priests, only custodians, or granthi, of the Guru Granth Sahib, the religion's sacred text.</p><p>Sikhism preaches that people of different races, religions, or sex are all equal in the eyes of God and teaches the full equality of men and women. Women can participate in any religious function or perform any Sikh ceremony or lead the congregation in prayer, according to www.sikhs.org.</p><p>Those entering the gurdwara must remove their shoes and cover their heads (men of the faith wear turbans and the women cover their heads with brightly colored scarves). When congregants walk in, they bow before the Guru Granth Sahib.</p><p>“We're not bowing to a book but what the scriptures have taught us,” Bhullar said.</p><p>For such an auspicious event as a grand opening, a three-day prayer called Akand Path began Friday. Volunteers step in and relieve those reading the prayer, picking up where the last person left off. The prayer is said for other special events, such as the birth of a child, or on holy days.</p><p>On Sunday afternoon, a conclusion prayer, or ardas, would be said, and those attending the special day would then have communion, a mixture of cream of wheat, flour, butter and sugar.</p><p>“Everyone receives it as a blessing,” Singh said. After communion would be the traditional meal, or langar, which would include familiar Indian food like curry.</p><p>Forty-five to 50 families will hold services at the gurdwara on the second and fourth Sundays each month.</p><p>There are some recognizable similarities between Sikhism and Christianity, but Bhullar and Singh pointed out one difference.</p><p>“It is not a religion of conversion,” Bhullar said.</p><p>Still, everyone is welcome at Gurdwara Nanak Darbar.</p><p>“We welcome anyone who wants to understand and experience the faith,” Bhullar said. “They can come here and not be judged, regardless of whether they're rich or poor, or their nationality. All faiths can come and pray together, and all faiths can come eat together.”</p><p>For more, visit www.sikhsofupstatesc.com.</p>